Unit 5 Vocab

a proposed law.

A law-making body divided into two houses. (altered)

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, particularly by cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get.

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Many are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate; requires 60 votes to pass. (not from book)

Through their leadership of committees, these leaders have important influence on the congressional agenda. They play the dominant role in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house. (altered)

Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.

The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives. (not from book)

When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents. (not from book)

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will remove a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration. (not from book)

the concept that legislators should vote on the basis of their consciences and the broad interests of the nation, not simply on the views of their constituents (not from book)

A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill.

the right of senators and representatives to send job-related mail without paying postage. (not from book)

the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent (not from book).

The committee in the House of Representatives that reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.

a committee in the House of Representatives that writes the tax codes, subject to the approval of the entire Congress.

Those individuals who already hold office.

Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.

Congress's monitoring of the executive branch bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills (not from book)

The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's manager in the Senate. This person is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes in behalf of the party's legislative positions.

The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.

Role played by elected representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue. (not from book)

Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in a congressional district.

Congressional committees appointed for specific purpose (usually temporary). (not from book)

A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled the chamber became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence.

An office mandated by the Constitution. This person is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

Committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.

Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to the passage of a bill favored by the party.

The Court held that Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in a school zone. (not from book)

Established that the SCOTUS could review redistricting cases; also established the "one man, one vote" doctrine. (not from book)

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts. (not from book)